Protection of Civilian in Armed Conflict– Jammu Kashmir
Kashmir Freedom Movement (KFM) started knocking doors at UN Security Council
Kashmir Freedom Movement (KFM) a leading Kashmiri political party has stepped up its diplomatic campaign to spearhead the people resistance movement against foreign occupation in Jammu Kashmir by empowering the voice of the people and asserting the right of the people to represent foreign affairs of the State of Jammu Kashmir.
In an historical move the Secretary Foreign Affairs of KFM, Sardar Aftab Khan has started diplomatic engagement with a range of UN agencies and the members of the UN Security Council.
In his letter to the president of UN Security Council H.E. Ambassador Maria Cristina Perceval, drawing UNSC attention to the extremely volatile situation, a growing threat to international peace and security and on-going violations of right to life, liberty and security of persons living in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sardar Aftab Khan wrote that the members of Kashmir Freedom Movement and people of Jammu and Kashmir welcome the president of UNSC efforts to bring the “Protection of Civilian in Armed Conflict” on the agenda. He noted that the members of UN security Council apparently choose to ignore the plight of the victims of Armed conflict in Jammu and Kashmir for so long that what’s going on in Jammu and Kashmir across the line of control seems does not affect the conscience of world powers anymore. However, the people of Jammu Kashmir still have some faith in the United Nation and believe that this organisation can bring the Kashmir conflict to an end by provision of the opportunities for the representative of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and their right to be heard directly at U.N.
Highlighting the plight of the victims of “Armed Conflict in Jammu Kashmir”, Sardar Aftab Khan further added that “I know, today UNSC may not hear any of the members of UN Security Council raising the importance of the protection of civilians in armed conflict in Jammu Kashmir. Therefore, he is taking this opportunity to bring to UNSC attention the killings of four civilian (Zaafran, son of Ghulam Sarwar, Shahzaman, son of Mohammad Younas, Wajid Akbar, son of Ali Akbar, and Faisal Iqbal, son of Sher Zaman ) abducted by the Indian Army from the “Buffer Zone” along the Line of Control in Neelum Valley, Pakistan administered, Azad Jammu Kashmir. They went missing on July 29. According to their relatives, the victims were collecting a medicinal plant — Tripatra or Barseem (Red Clove) — along the unmarked dividing line when the Indian army “arrested and took them across”. It turned out later that they had been killed by the Indian army on the other side of the Line of Control (LoC)”.
An Indian magazine, Firstpost, quoting an FIR registered in a police station in the India-held territory on July 30 on behalf of the 56-Rashtriya Rifles, disclosed that the four were killed by the army near Katwar Post late on the preceding night as “unidentified Pakistani intruders”.
“Three other civilians killed and many more injured during last two weeks by Indian and Pakistani armed forces firing across the line of Control. Although, UNMOGIP mission personals are on the ground to note the number of violations of artillery fires across the line of control but their limited mandate does not account the killings and sufferings of Kashmiri Civilians as a result of these cross LOC violations by both Indian and Pakistani Armed Forces.”
Sardar Aftab Khan further noted that the United Nation Security Council in last 66 years could not devise any mechanisms for the people of Jammu and Kashmir to present their side of story before UNSC.
“We want to end this misery and helplessness and asking the president of the UNSC to raise Kashmiris plight during the deliberations to discuss and finalise the recommendations’ for the protection of Civilians in armed conflicts and ask the UN Secretary General to take a robust interest in the question of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with article 98(2) and 99 of the UN Charter.” End
Notes for Editor
1- Kashmir Freedom Movement (KFM) is a political party exists to empower the voice and lead the people in the national struggle for freedom, peace, prosperity and social justice in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
2- For further details visit www.kfmovement.org